Genting hype is hurting casino bill

December 26, 2011|By Kathleen Haughney, Tallahassee Bureau

Even Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who has supported the bill and promised a floor vote on it, has toned down his comments and said Thrasher certainly had the power to slow it down. The bill – scheduled to come up for a vote in Senate Regulated Industries shortly after the session begins Jan. 10 -- must go through the Rules Committee that Thrasher chairs before it can go to the Senate floor.

Companies like Sands are now trying to regain control of the debate and still drive the message that the casinos could be a major job creator. According to Sands' projections, their casino could create 8,000 to 12,000 of jobs in Florida. It's the one trump card the bill may have, and one that Sands and other advocates are hoping to exploit.

Last week, when the state released its unemployment rate of 10 percent, the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter released a statement urging the Legislature and governor to consider the proposal as a jobs creator.

"The destination resort jobs bill won't solve all of Florida's economic challenges, but it will have a significant impact toward putting thousands of out of work Floridians back on the payrolls so they can provide for their families and pursue a better quality of life," said Peter Dyga, president of the group.

Genting, for its part, is making no apologies for its strategy thus far and says that its stance has been to get people talking about destination casinos.

"This isn't and shouldn't be about Genting," Hoppe said. "It should be about destination resorts and what it can do for the state and how it can bring jobs."